Rinaldi confirms Barni Ducati World Superbike deal for 2019

Michel Ruben Rinaldi will contest his first full World Superbike campaign after securing a move to Barni Ducati

Michel Ruben Rinaldi will contest his first full World Superbike campaign after securing a move to Barni Ducati for next season.

The Italian rider stepped up to the premier class this year in a European-only rounds plus testing deal with the Aruba.it Racing Ducati squad after sealing the 2017 European Superstock 1000 championship.

The 22-year-old impressed for the factory squad, ending the year 14th in the riders’ standings despite missing five out of 13 rounds, with the highlight of sixth place in Brno’s race two while he also led laps in race two at Imola.

Despite being overlooked at the factory squad with Alvaro Bautista coming in, Rinaldi has secured his World Superbike future with Barni Ducati who secured the Independents’ title with Xavi Fores this year.

The deal also confirms a third new Ducati V4 on the 2019 World Superbike grid alongside the factory duo of Bautista and Chaz Davies.